A new purpose-built school, complete with a forest school, animals, and a pond, designed with the sensory needs of children at its heart, is set to be built in Newton Abbot.

Glendinning House Academy will be a new, special free school for children aged 7 to 19 years, with social communication and interaction needs including Autism Spectrum Condition.

Located on the site of the former Haytor View Primary School and Children’s Centre, the school will provide 120 new school places for children who would benefit from a special school environment because of barriers to learning, which include sensory processing needs and anxiety.

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The South Dartmoor Multi Academy Trust have been given the green light to develop the new school following a successful bid as part of the Free School Programme by the Department for Education.

Artist impression of the Glendinning House Academy plans

The grounds have been designed to support an outdoor and nature based curriculum with areas for horticulture, wildlife including a woodland “Forest School” and pond, and areas suitable for keeping animals, documents with the application state.

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The details with the planning application, submitted to Teignbridge District Council planners, say the school will be divided into lower (KS2), middle(KS3) and upper (KS4), with a Post 16 Centre for KS5, and with each key stage has its own dedicated entrance with access to main school areas via restricted entries.

It will cater for students between the ages of 7 and 19 with Autistic Spectrum Condition and Social Communication and Interaction needs, create a foundation for curriculum learning providing both indoor and outdoor environments that are sensitive to the needs of the pupils, and every part of the design has been considered in terms of the extra sensory needs of the pupils who will attend, the documents add.

They add: “Aimed at pupils with Special Education Needs in particular those on the Autistic Spectrum and/or those with Social Communication and Interaction Needs, Glendinning House will be a mixed school for pupils aged 7-19 who are able to follow the national curriculum but are unable to attend a mainstream school due to barriers to learning including sensory needs and anxiety.

Artist impression of the Glendinning House Academy plans

“Class sizes will be between 6-9 pupils with a total capacity of 120. Split over two floors with an additional Animal Husbandry classroom base, classrooms total 22, while further accommodation includes a hall, dining and kitchen spaces, sensory rooms and breakouts along with staff administration and rest areas. There will also be a library.

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“The grounds have been designed to support an outdoor and nature based curriculum with areas for horticulture, wildlife including a woodland “Forest School” and pond, and areas suitable for keeping animals.

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“As part of outdoor learning pupils will have access to an Animal Husbandry area with spaces for keeping small mammals such as chickens, rabbits, guinea pigs and pygmy goats. Animals will be cared for out of hours by arrangements made by the school.”

Subject to planning permission being granted, the school is expected to open in September 2020.

Artist impression of the Glendinning House Academy plans

Beatrice Mukherjee, Glendinning House Development Lead for South Dartmoor Academy Trust, had previously said: “The curriculum will be focused on learning in the outdoors and through practical experience. It has been designed to develop children’s communication and interaction skills in a different environment to that of a traditional classroom.

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“Pupils will work with small animals, learn horticulture, study nature and take part in Forest School activities whilst studying the national curriculum. Academic learning will develop alongside communication and interaction skills as children develop their understanding of themselves and others.

“Smaller class sizes than a traditional school and greater levels of personalisation with a curriculum that supports more than academic progress means that pupils will be supported to develop independence, gain relevant qualifications and achieve their ambitions. The school is looking forward to working closely with local businesses in order to offer work experience and contribute towards community projects.”

Architects model of the building design for the new Glendinning House Academy in Newton Abbot

She added that subject to planning being granted, the school will be built from August 2019 and completed by August 2020, with the headteacher will be in position from January 2020 and recruitment for the staff team will begin in October 2019.

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Working in close partnership with the Trust, Devon County Council SEN will be responsible for admissions to the new government funded special school when the school is named on a child’s Education Health and Care Plan.

Teignbridge District Council planners will determine the fate of the application at a later date